IZZIE AND THE BEAST

thesahmmy replied to your post: Dinner and a Movie

this sounds as challenging as trying to escape that animal control lady in the film. i’m so sorry. you poor things. at least that GAP worker rocked. little angel.

Thanks for the recommendation. Definitely glad we saw Madagascar 3 instead of Brave. They showed a preview of it before the movie and as soon as the bear roared on screen Noah’s hands flew to his ears. That lady in the movie was crazy. Izzie told me she like her lipstick though, of course:)

The phrases ‘what could go wrong’ or ‘what’s the worst that could happen’ fly out the window when you become a parent. Kris hasn’t been out to dinner with the kids and I in forever. He’s never seen a movie with us. Tonight we were going to do both. We planned on going to this great outdoor mall that has a theatre. Kris got home from work after three. He cleaned up while I got the kids ready and we  were on the road before five. Noah was going on day two of being whiny and falling apart over little things. Usually he gets mad but he’s been crying and more tired than usual. He said he was going to fall asleep in the truck on the way to dinner and he did. I thought, well this is nice. He’ll have a little cat nap and be back to himself in no time. 

He slept about twenty minutes and woke up groggy when we pulled into a parking space at the mall. I carried him into Max and Erma’s and he sat next to me lethargic and completely spaced out. 

About ten minutes after this photo was taken, Noah started throwing up. It was like a slow leak. At first I thought he took a drink and was spitting it out because only clear liquid was coming out. I started grabbing napkins holding them up to his mouth while he kept leaking fluid out of mouth. Five minutes later he was finally finished but his clothes were soaked and the so was the side of my top. The server brought me a wet dishcloth and I cleaned him us best I could. I took him to the bathroom and we came back to a table full of food. He wanted to eat the pizza but I only let him have a few fries. He said he felt better. I wasn’t so sure. Kris said we should just go home. 

Izzie started to quiver and fall apart when she realized we might have to go home.  Kris was not happy and uncomfortable. I had vomit on me. Noah’s top and and pants were soaked. Kris and Izzie ate their dinner. I had lost my appetite. Izzie was munching on her fries when she got some ketchup on a horrible canker sore she has on her lip. She started sobbing and although she tried to take her breaths and calm down, you could clearly see she was in a lot of pain. Kris stayed with Izzie to pay the bill and take our food to the car while I ran Noah over to the GAP to buy an outfit. I walked in to a friendly sales associate who could tell right away Noah needed a new outfit. She took me back to the clearance section and found a top and shorts for fifteen dollars. I could live with that. We sat down at a bench outside. He was bouncing all over the place while I tried to change him. He was definitely perking up. 

We met up with Kris and Izzie at the theatre and bought our tickets to see ‘Madagascar 3’.  The kids precariously clutched their popcorn while I handled their drinks. We settled into the middle row with Izzie, Kris, Noah then me. We all give the movie two thumbs up. Izzie stood up about halfway through; her face gleamed with excitement as the circus started to perform and she sang along with the music. Noah did well, but started getting fidgety towards the end. He was curled up on my lap when the credits rolled and I thought he was going to fall asleep. I looked over at Kris and Izzie was half asleep in his arms. As soon as we walked out the theatre doors and the light washed over his face, Noah started jumping around and dancing to the live band playing around the corner. 

He exclaimed, “It’s still light out! That means I can play.” He impressed a few teens sitting nearby with his dance moves. Kris was carrying a passed out Izzie and I was trying to grasp Noah’s hand before we stepped into the parking lot. When we got home Kris laid Izzie on our bed and Noah went outside with me to check on the garden. We picked some hot peppers and kale and brought them inside. I got the kids ready for bed and Noah was still hopping around. Izzie woke up crying because of her canker sore so I rocked her for a bit. After tucking her in bed, I had to go out of the room a few times for various reasons; glass of milk, another blanket, the usual  suspects in resisting bedtime. Every time I walked out of the room there was a shadow behind me. I turned around to see Noah who would respond, “I followed you.”

Noah eventually settled down and drifted off to dreamland before Izzie did. Kris went to bed and I resumed some housework. All in all it was a good night. I had hoped for better, but I’ll take what I can get. The house is quiet except for the distant sound of fireworks. Brownie is curled up at my feet again. He hates fireworks. Tomorrow the plan is to get groceries. We really need food in the house. We’ll see how everyone feels come sunrise. 

Izzie is 5 1/2 and Noah will be 4 in about a month. We’re taking the kids to see a movie tomorrow. It’s either going to be ‘Madagascar 3’ or ‘Brave’. Izzie really wants to see Brave and I was all set to go with that but I’m reading a lot of reviews that say it’s best for kids 6 and older. I guess there are some scary scenes involving Bears. I really don’t want any nightmares. So, I don’t know which one we should see?

Izzie slept in until seven this morning and Noah groggily woke up around eight thirty. We left my parents house at nine thirty and made a petrol stop before getting on the highway. We pulled into town just in time to pick up some ice and head over to the Y to get our milk. We arrived home around one. The kids chilled and played with their toys while I unpacked. As I was putting Noah’s clothes away, and struggling to find room, I decided to pull out all his warm weather clothes and box them up. I think it’s safe to say summer is upon us. He won’t be able to wear them in the fall as most are a bit tight on him now, so I’m giving them away. This kid has more clothes than his sister.

I laid on the couch and Noah asked me to read him a story. He cuddled up and we read while Izzie danced in her go-go boots my mom picked up for her at a garage sale. Red, pleather knee high go-go boots and Izzie is in love. She wanted music on the TV so I put on the dance/electronico music channel. Noah hopped up and threw out some of his Michael Jackson moves while Izzie danced away alongside him. It was awesome.

It was almost ninety degrees today, whew! My flowers needed some water desperately and the kids came out with me to ride their bikes. Izzie lasted five minute before retreating back inside. Noah helped me water the last couple of plants and then we both went in and drank a big glass of water. They played in the living room while I made cookies and dinner. Oh, I made falafels for the first time. They turned out pretty good. I fried them in coconut oil instead of canola oil and served them with a homemade sauce, brown rice, onions and ground beef. It was delicious.

It’s been awhile since a mud bath. The kids diet and sleep patterns have been all over the place the last few weeks and they haven’t been getting their smoothies, so I figured tonight was a good night. They haven’t had one in a couple of months and they loved it so much they didn’t want to get out. Noah looked hilarious laying in tub with his shaved head. He is so stinkin’ cute. They were exhausted after their bath and cuddled up on my bed for story time. I think they fell asleep within a few minutes of putting them down. I did hear Noah at first, but it faded pretty quickly.

And now what do I hear? Fireworks. Every night it’s fireworks. Ever since Michigan made it legal to purchase fireworks, everyone and their grandma are buying them up and setting them off every. single. night. The kids usually sleep through them. Dakota stays curled up in his bed. Brownie lays right by my feet and is not a huge fan of them. His face crinkles every time he hears a big bang. 

I’m going to finish up the dishes in the sink and pack Kris’s lunch for work and then I’m off to sleepy land.

Night All

P.S. Noah’s doing great with potty training again. He went a few days without an accident at my parents and he told me he was all potty trained. We stopped once on the way home today and he used the restroom. So far he’s done great at home too. He didn’t have any accidents today. He still gets a diaper on at night but he’s been waking up dry and then using the toilet almost first thing. Hopefully, he’ll keep it up!

ipromisetowrite replied to your photo: Beast just lost about five pounds!

Baldy Beast!

Seriously:) He is so adorable. I am getting so much grief for shaving his head but I don’t care. It’s what best for Beast, and he feels so much better without all that hair in the summer. We did the same thing last year, and guess what? His hair grew back. It really did. 

We headed to the Alive Music Festival last Monday. The music was spectacular. We rocked out. We sat tranquilized. We screamed until we lost our voices. We moshed. Correction..The youth moshed. I sat up on the hill where I could see the stage and band just fine and didn’t have to worry about bodily inures or sweat being tossed in my direction. I discovered some new bands I love. The speakers were captivating too. I was inspired, motivated and refreshed. Kris and I both enjoyed a break from the craziness at home and always being on the go. The camping part was fun. I had a tiny hiccup with my asthma. It was super hot the first few days and we were out in the hills of Atwood Lake Park. I never knew Ohio could be so beautiful, but beauty can be deceiving and Ohio definitely does not like me. I realized that I was going to run out of breathing treatments for my nebulizer.

I tried spacing my treatments out and waited too long to take them. We were already at the main amphitheater for the rest of the evening and I could barely get in short breaths. My chest was hurting and I just sat in my chair hoping if I concentrated hard enough I could will myself to breathe. Visions of passing out and a minor panic attack made Kris, along with some friends, take me up to the med station. I started doing a breathing treatment while Kris worked on getting a script called in to the local CVS. In the past we had a hard time getting a script transferred to an out-of-state pharmacy. Thanks to computer system upgrades, Kris had no problem getting my script refilled. I did three breathing treatments in a row and my pulse oxygen levels returned to normal. I was shaking like a bandit from the steroids, but at least I could breathe:) The next morning Kris and I drove over to Dover and picked up my meds. Thank you CVS. 

I kept on top of treatments and although, I struggled the rest of the week, it could have been worse and now I know what I need to do for future camping experiences. Kris and I talked about how to be better prepared and some other precautions I can take. On the last day of festival half of us woke up with an allergic reaction to something in the air. We couldn’t stop sneezing and coughing. Itchy throats, ears, and eyes made me want to crawl out of my skin. We still enjoyed our last night at the amphitheater. They closed the show out with a bang, literally. Fireworks shot up into the air and every time we thought it was over, more lit up the sky. It was one of the best fireworks shows I’ve ever seen. 

We packed up and headed out Sunday morning. Home sweet home felt so good as we pulled into our driveway late evening. Our wonderful house sitter had already left and the dogs were sassy and excited to see us. Thank you Julie for holding down the fort while we were away. We appreciate and love you so much. One thing that helped tremendously was buying a timer for our garden. We hooked the sprinkler up and set the timer to water before sunrise every morning. My plants looked great. I picked a ton of basil, kale and several jalepeno peppers. The only thing I missed was my broccoli rabe. You’re supposed to cut the plants just as the flower buds form, and there were only a few bunches that hadn’t flowered when I got home. Oh, well. Live and learn. 

We’ve had a bit turmoil with our vehicles which held me up in picking up the kids. Our van is old and dying. We hesitate in pouring more money into it when fixing one thing usually leads to something else breaking. For now, I’m going to drive the truck which only needs new tires and an alignment. Kris is going to drive the van until it dies. It could be months. It could be days. I’m making a quick run to the west side tomorrow to get the kids. I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled Noah will be when he sees me pull up in the truck. If I let him sleep, play and live in the truck he absolutely would. 

Laundry is under way, but not even laughable close to being done. I did some other housework and worked on the garden for a few hours. While I was weeding I discovered two rogue tomato plants. I dug them up and replanted them so we’ll see if they make it. It was absolutely gorgeous outside today but the temps are going to continue to climb as the week goes on. The best part about being gone for two weeks is that we missed fish fly season! We were only home one night from my sister’s wedding before we left again and that Sunday night Kris ran out to pick up a late night dinner. All the lights at open businesses were out and Kris couldn’t figure out why until he passed one business that had it’s lights on. They were blackened with fish flies. Due to extreme heat and humidity, they came with a vengeance but there are only a few skeletal remains clinging to the side of my house. 

My bed is calling my name and I hope that the wheezing is kept to a minimum tonight. I cannot wait to see my babies tomorrow. I miss them more than I miss oxygen. Seriously, I want to hug them and kiss them and take them to the park. 

Nighty night..